Hair Extension Clip

ABSTRACT

In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a hair clip having a rectangular base frame, with a plurality of prongs forming a unitary structure with the base frame, is disclosed. Two weft clips are fixedly attached to, or form a unitary structure with, the base frame. The weft clips which are attached thereto form a three-tined or pronged attachment on either side of the rectangular base frame and attach at an uppermost extremity of the rectangular base, while the lower end of the rectangular base has openings of prongs for attaching hair thereto. The weft clips, in embodiments, hold the weft of a hair extension between the weft clip and rectangular base, such that two tines are at an acute angle to a direction opposite a larger middle tine.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology relates generally to hair accessories and, more specifically, to hair clips.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

Hair extensions add length to the hair by clipping, gluing, sewing, weaving, or otherwise adding hair to one's head. Rather than wait for months to grow one's hair to a desired length and having to spend extensive amounts of time styling the hair, one can simply add an extension to one's existing hair. Hair extensions can be styled like regular hair, but they last up to three months without the need for further styling.

One downside to hair extensions is the time necessary to weave, glue, or sew hair extensions into your own hair. A woman might spend hours at a salon getting hair extensions installed. While clipping hair extensions can be less time-consuming, the clips tend to lack strength; e.g., if the hair becomes caught on an object or is pulled too hard, the entire extension can become disconnected from the hair. Further, the tension of clips can weaken over time, meaning that the hair extension is not held as firmly as it once was.

Thus, there is a need in the art to provide improved hair clips which are inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, and which hold hair extensions well.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

Therefore, it is an object of the disclosed technology to create a hair clip from which the hair extension cannot be pulled out easily. Removal requires moving the hair extension in a direction transverse to, or opposite of, the direction in which the hair falls naturally.

A hair clip of an embodiment of the disclosed technology has a rectangular base frame having longer upper and lower sides than left and right sides. A cushion frame is fixedly attached to, and extends across, a lower longest length of the rectangular base frame. An elastic cushion is wrapped around a majority of said cushion frame. A plurality of prongs forms a unitary structure with the base frame and extends from an upper longest length of the base frame, the prongs held with tension against the elastic cushion. Two spaced-apart weft clips fixedly and rotatably attach to either side of the upper longest length of the rectangular base frame. The weft clips have a connective region fixedly attached to the rectangular base frame, a variably angled region connected to the connection region, a thin region connecting the variably angled region to an end region, and tines extending from the end region at an acute angle to the variably angled region and the thin region.

In embodiments of the disclosed technology, for each of the two weft clips, when rotated towards the rectangular base frame, a hollow space is formed between a generally flat side of the rectangular base frame and the respective clip of the two weft clips. This hollow space has a generally flat side formed from the rectangular base and a curvilinear side formed from a weft clip, except that the curvilinear side is interrupted by the tines.

The clip can be part of a kit with a hair extension, the hair extension having a weft and hair. When the weft is frictionally held between the rectangular base frame and the two spaced-apart weft clips, the tines compress the weft, such as when one tries to pull the hair out from the clip by pulling downwards, away from the clip. More precisely, in some embodiments of the disclosed technology, a weft is held in each space of each weft clip, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, such that pulling the hair extension in a direction away from the upper side towards the lower side of the rectangular base is ineffective in removing the hair extension without destroying it.

A hair clip of embodiments of the disclosed technology can have a top portion of a base, with weft clips having tines which extend into a space otherwise formed between the weft clips and the base when the weft clips are touching the base on either end. This is such that an end of the weft clips and the tines of the weft clips form a frictional attachment mechanism between the top portion of the base and weft placed there-within. A plurality of prongs extends from the top portion of the base past a bottom portion of the base, the bottom portion on an opposite side of a hollow area of the base between the top and bottom portions. The plurality of prongs forms a frictional attachment mechanism between the plurality of prongs and the bottom portion of the base. Further, in embodiments, each weft clip has an attachment region fixedly attached to, and rotatable with respect to, the upper greatest length of the rectangular base frame. Each weft clip can form a curvilinear space above the base, the space bisected by two of the tines. A weft slid between each of the weft clips and the base can be held there-in, with the tines preventing movement of the weft downwards from the clip. The weft is thus compressed by the tines placed below the weft when one tries to pull the weft out of the clip, or the tines can be used to grasp the weft itself.

A method of using the hair clip in embodiments of the disclosed technology can include sliding the weft of a hair extension in a direction from a bottom of a rectangular base of a hair clip to a top of the rectangular base of said hair clip. The top has at least two spaced-apart weft clips, each with at least two tines extending at an acute angle from an end region of a respective weft clip towards the top. (The “bottom” is on the opposite of the “top” side.) The weft is then pushed between the at least two spaced-apart weft clips and the base (by moving the weft or the clip). Human hair is placed between a plurality of prongs and the base, the plurality of prongs extending from a side opposite the at least two spaced-apart weft clips. An additional step of rotating each weft clip, such that respective tines each displace (move) at least a part of the weft while the weft is held by a respective weft clip, can be carried out. Each weft clip, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, curvilinearly rises from the base and then, at a lesser angle, curvilinearly falls back towards the base. Upon pushing the weft upwards past the tines, the tines block the weft from being pulled out in a downward direction.

In a further embodiment of the disclosed method, an additional step may be provided of parting the hair at the first part, such that the first distinct shade is substantially shown. “Substantially” and “substantially shown,” for purposes of this specification, are defined as at least a majority of at least 90% of the hairs being visible from the outside of the hairpiece, or simply “90% or more.” The step of attaching hair may involve either hand-tying or wefting hair strands to said hairpiece.

It should be understood that the use of “and/or” is defined inclusively such that the term “a and/or b” should be read to include the sets: “a and b,” “a or b,” “a,” “b.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a clip of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 shows a magnified version of the clip of FIG. 1 shown in an open configuration.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show the closed and open clip juxtaposed next to each other, FIG. 3A being the closed version of the clip and FIG. 3B the open version thereof.

FIG. 4A is a rear view of the clip shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4B is a rear view of the clip shown in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 5A is a top and front perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5B is a top and front perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 6 shows various side views of a clip of embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of the process of closing the clip on a hair extension, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 7B shows a side view of a clip closed onto a hair extension, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 7C shows the clip of FIG. 7C closed onto the hair extension.

FIG. 8A shows a rear view of an open clip with hair extension inserted there-in, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 8B shows a rear view of a closed clip with hair extension inserted there-in.

FIG. 9A shows a hair extension being added to a person's hair.

FIG. 9B shows a close-up of a hair clip of an embodiment of the disclosed technology being connected to hair on a head.

FIG. 10 shows a before and after view of a person with an added hair extension of an embodiment of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 11 shows a rear view of the person with added hair extension of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a hair clip having a rectangular base frame, with a plurality of prongs forming a unitary structure with the base frame, is disclosed. Two weft clips are fixedly attached to, or form a unitary structure with, the base frame. The weft clips which are attached thereto form a three-tined or pronged attachment on either side of the rectangular base frame and attach at an uppermost extremity of the rectangular base, while the lower end of the rectangular base has openings of prongs for attaching hair thereto. The weft clips, in embodiments, hold the weft of a hair extension between the weft clip and rectangular base, such that two tines are at an acute angle to a direction opposite a larger middle tine.

The embodiments of the disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the following description of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a clip of the disclosed technology. The clip has a base frame 10 which is rectangular in embodiments. Two weft clips 20 are attached on either side of the base frame 10. The weft clips are secured at adjacent corners of the base frame, on opposite sides of a longer length of the rectangular (or generally rectangular) base frame. Each weft clip 20 extends in a direction of a shorter length of the rectangular (or generally rectangular) base, such that it is parallel or substantially parallel there-with. More details of the weft clips 20 are found with reference to the description of FIG. 2 below. Still referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of prongs 12 with bulbous tips is shown. Hair is attached (defined as “fixedly held in place by tension/friction”) between the base frame 10 and the prongs 12, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, while a weft of a hair extension and/or other parts of a hair extension are attached between the base frame 10 and weft clip(s) 20, in embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a magnified version of the clip of FIG. 1 shown in an open configuration. The dimensions shown in millimeters (mm) are by way of example and not limitation. The length of the weft clips 20 can have a distance away from a top edge of the base 10, which is half of the shorter length of the rectangular (or generally rectangular) base. A cushion 14, a device with less rigidity and more compressibility, such as by a factor of five, ten, or more than twenty times, than the base frame 10 can surround a cushion frame 16. The cushion 14 can be an elastic cushion. The cushion frame extends, in embodiments, across a longer length of the rectangular base 10, with the cushion 14 across an area thereof defined by an opening with the plurality of prongs 12 or substantially as such. The opening within the base frame 10 is generally rectangular, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, while being crossed by a plurality of tongs 12. The tongs, in a resting condition, abut the cushion 14, in embodiments of the disclosed technology.

Referring now specifically to the weft clips, the two weft clips 20 are substantially or fully (within an acceptable tolerance level of the machinery used to make same) identical. While only one clip has been numbered, the numbering applies to both. The clip has a first connecting region 25 which connects, fixedly, or, rotatably and fixedly, to the base plate 10, such as by way of a connector 27. A second variably angled region 23 is positionable about an axis between regions 25 and 23, such that it can abut, and/or be in parallel with, the connecting region 25 or be spaced apart there-from. In this manner, the connecting portion of the weft clip 25 remains stationary and/or rotates while remaining attached to the base plate 10. The end region 20 (which is also the number used to refer to the weft clip in its entirety, when not referring to a specific portion thereof) of the weft clip functions as a handle to close/open the weft clip (which in turn closes/opens the space between 25 and 23).

A thin region 28 connects the end region 20 with the variably angled region 23. As such, the end region 20 forms a first largest tine and can have a rounded end. The tine region 28 is flanked on either side by a bent tine 21, which is attached in place to the end region 20, while extending at an acute or right, or substantially right, angle upwards from a generally flat plane of the end region 20. When the weft clip is closed (the variably angled portion 23 pressed against the connecting region 25), the tines 21 point generally away from the base frame 10. The tines 21, as will be described in later figures in more detail, hold weft or hair in place, in a space 29 formed between the tines 21 and the narrow region 28.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show the closed and open clip juxtaposed next to each other, FIG. 3A being the closed version of the clip and FIG. 3B being the open version thereof. Here one can see the weft clip 20 open and closed. When closed, the tines (21) are against the cushion 14 or cushion frame (16) which serves to hold the weft or hair in place better than prior art clips, which lack such tines.

FIG. 4A is a rear view of the clip shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4B is a rear view of the clip shown in FIG. 3B. FIG. 5A is a top and front perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 5B is a top and front perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 3B. These figures enable one to better see the parts of the devices of embodiments of the disclosed technology from various angles. Note especially in FIG. 5A that, when the weft clips 20 are closed, a triangular region with curved apex is created in the space 29 formed between the weft clip and base 10. The tines 21 extend into this space to aid in grasping the weft or hair. The tines 21 are at an acute angle to the end region 20 of the weft clip, such that when the weft clip 20 is closed, the tines extend towards the base clip and, in embodiments, touch the base 10 or substantially extend between the base 10 and the end region 20 of the weft clip.

FIG. 6 shows various side views of a clip of embodiments of the disclosed technology. The angle of the tines 21 is clearly seen in these figures. A tine 21 extends inwards towards the base 10 from the path of the weft clip, which curves upwards (23) from the base 10 and then back downwards (20), the tine 21 interrupting the space between the weft clip and base. This tine 21 grasps weft, as shown in the subsequent figure.

FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of the process of closing the clip on a hair extension, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. FIG. 7B shows a side view of a clip closed onto a hair extension, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. FIG. 7C shows the clip of FIG. 7C closed onto the hair extension. In FIG. 7A, the weft clip 20 is shown being closed and in two positions simultaneously, for illustration purposes. The arrows point in the direction of movement of the weft clip. Here, one inserts a hair extension with weft 32 (thicker material than hair where the hair is attached) and hair 30 (synthetic or real) between and/or abutting the base 10 and the weft clip 20. Then, one rotates the weft clip 20 towards a flat side of the base 10. When the weft clip 20 is closed against the flat side of base 10 as much as possible, the weft 32 is attached/frictionally held between the weft clip 20 and base 10. As shown in FIG. 7B in particular, the tine 21 passes into, and/or compresses, the weft 32 in the interior space between the base 10 and weft clip 20. In the alternative, the tine 21 is situated below the weft, such that it blocks downward movement of the weft. In FIG. 7C, one can see the T-shaped portion of the weft clip formed from the thinner area and variably angled region 23 connecting to the end region 20 of the weft clip. The weft is held securely by the tines under the weft clip and above the above. The tines keep the weft 2 from exiting from the clip when pulled using transverse forces. Such forces especially occur when the hair 30 is pulled downwards, away from the clip base 10. This happens as a result of gravity, hair being pulled, or the like. The tines prevent unwanted detachment of the hair 30 from the clip case 10.

FIG. 8A shows a rear view of an open clip with hair extension inserted there-in, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. FIG. 8B shows a rear view of a closed clip with hair extension inserted there-in. In this rear view, it can be seen that the prongs 12 of the hair clip are, as yet, uninvolved in attachment of the clip base 10 to another object. These prongs 12 are used to attach to real hair, as shown in the following figures.

FIG. 9A shows a hair extension being added to a person's hair. FIG. 9B shows a close-up of a hair clip of an embodiment of the disclosed technology being connected to hair on a head. The weft 32 is placed, in embodiments of the disclosure, perpendicular to the direction of attached hair 40, the attached hair being attached to a person's head, having (in typical cases) been grown there-from. The weft 32 in these figures is already attached to the clip base 10 at this stage, though this could be done in any order. The real hair 40 is then placed between the prongs 12 and the base 10 of the clip and attached there-to. This is carried out, in embodiments of the disclosure, for multiple clips attached along the weft 32 in multiple places, as well as to the real hair 40 in multiple such places.

FIG. 10 shows a before and after view of a person with added hair extension, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology. FIG. 11 shows a rear view of the person with added hair extension of FIG. 10. The person's regular hair is supplemented with an extension of additional hair, while the tines in the connector prevent the weft from being pulled from the clip by pulling the hair downwards and/or away from the head of the wearer.

While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A hair clip, comprising: a rectangular base frame having longer upper and lower sides than left and right sides; a cushion frame fixedly attached to, and extending across, a lower longest length of said rectangular base frame; an elastic cushion wrapped around a majority of said cushion frame; a plurality of prongs forming a unitary structure with said base frame extending from an upper longest length of said base frame, said prongs held with tension against said elastic cushion; two spaced-apart weft clips fixedly and rotatably attached to either side of said upper longest length of said rectangular base frame; said two spaced-apart weft clips having: a connection region fixedly and rotatably attached to said rectangular base frame; a variably angled region connected to said connection region; a thin region connecting said variably angled region to an end region; tines extending from said end region at an acute angle to said variably angled region and said thin region.
 2. The hair clip of claim 1, wherein for each of said two weft clips, rotating towards said rectangular base frame forms a hollow space between a generally flat side of said rectangular base frame and said two weft clips.
 3. The hair of claim 1, wherein said hollow space has a generally flat side formed from said rectangular base and a curvilinear side formed from a weft clip of said two weft clips, said curvilinear side interrupted by said tines.
 4. The clip of claim 3, further being part of a kit with a hair extension, said hair extension comprising a weft and hair; wherein said weft is frictionally held between said rectangular base frame and said two spaced-apart weft clips; and said tines compress said weft.
 5. The clip of claim 4, wherein said weft is held in each said space of each said weft clip, such that pulling said hair extension in a direction away from said upper side towards said lower side of said rectangular base is ineffective in removing said hair extension without destroying said hair extension.
 6. A hair clip comprising: a top portion of a base with weft clips having tines which extend into a space otherwise formed between said weft clips and said base, when said weft clips are touching said base at either end, such that an end of said weft clips and said tines of said weft clips form a frictional attachment mechanism between said top portion of said base and weft placed there-within; a plurality of prongs extending from said top portion of said base past a bottom portion of said base, said bottom portion on an opposite side of a hollow area of said base between said top and bottom portions, wherein a frictional attachment mechanism between said plurality of prongs and said bottom portion of said base takes place.
 7. The hair clip of claim 6, wherein each said weft clip has an attachment region fixedly attached to said base clip and rotatable with respect to said upper longest length of said rectangular base frame.
 8. The hair clip of claim 6, wherein each said weft clip forms a curvilinear space above said base, said space being bisected by two said tines.
 9. The hair clip of claim 8, wherein said weft clips hold a weft slid between each of said weft clips and said base.
 10. The hair clip of claim 9, wherein said weft is compressed by said two tines.
 11. The hair clip of claim 7, wherein rotation of a weft clip of said weft clips towards a bottom portion of said base causes said tines to be positioned below a weft positioned between said weft clip and said base.
 12. The hair clip of claim 6, comprising a cushion frame fixedly attached to, and extending across, said rectangular base frame, with an elastic cushion wrapped around a majority of said cushion frame.
 13. A hair clip method of use, comprising the steps of: sliding weft of a hair extension in a direction from a bottom of a rectangular base of a hair clip to a top of said rectangular base of said hair clip, said top further comprising at least two spaced-apart weft clips, each with at least two tines extending at an acute angle from an end region of a respective said weft clip towards said top, where said bottom being at a side opposite said top; pushing said weft between said at least two spaced-apart weft clips and said base; pushing human hair between a plurality of prongs and said base, said plurality of prongs extending from a side opposite said at least two spaced-apart weft clips.
 14. The hair clip method of use of claim 13, further comprising a step of rotating each said weft clip, such that respective said tines each displace at least a part of said weft, while said weft is held by a respective said weft clip.
 15. The hair clip method of use of claim 13, wherein each said weft clip curvilinearly rises from said base and then, at a lesser angle, curvilinearly falls back towards said base.
 16. The hair clip method of use of claim 15, wherein on said curvilinear fall, said tines extend towards said base.
 17. The hair clip method of claim 16, wherein, upon pushing said weft upwards past said tines, said tines block said weft from being pulled out in a downward direction. 